An organization that wants the Cobb County School District to address what it calls racial inequity in the classroom will have to find another meeting space after violating Smyrna Public Library rules.
Stronger Together requested a room at the library for a Nov. 17 meeting to discuss allegations of racism in Cobb County classrooms. The library approved the request in August. However, the organization was told within the last week it will no longer be allowed to use the room because it violated rules that prohibit the use of the library’s name and address in materials advertising an event.
Dr. Jillian Ford, one of the founding members of Stronger Together, said the notification from the library came as a surprise as she was unaware of the advertising rule. She said she’s informed several people of the meeting location in fliers she created months ago. The group also has the location listed in a Facebook event announcing the meeting to its followers.
“I am concerned about all those people who will never hear that it’s not at the library,” Ford said.
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Smyrna Library Director Mary Moore said library policy does not allow event organizers to publicize the facility’s name, address, logo or image in print or online public advertisements.
Moore said any application for a reservation requires applicants to initial and sign to indicate they've read the rules. The rules are also posted on the library's website.
“They should have been aware that that was one of the guidelines they have to follow,” she said.
Moore said Stronger Together’s reservation was contingent upon the group paying a rental fee, which she said never happened.
Moore said she learned Stronger Together violated library policy when she did an Internet search for “Smyrna Public Library” and the group’s event came up in the results. Moore said event organizers are welcome to mention the library in private messages or email to a person.
The library has a larger meeting room and a smaller conference room it allows the public to rent. Library cardholders pay $15 per two hours and non residents pay $30 per two hours.
City spokeswoman Jennifer Bennett said the policy is in place to promote a sense of neutrality on the city and library’s part. Both Moore and Bennett said the library hosts numerous events throughout the year, and they don’t want people to confuse a library-sponsored event with one for which they are simply providing meeting space.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have rules,” Bennett said.
Ford said she’s working on finding a new venue for Stronger Together’s Nov. 17 meeting. Two locations she’s considering are a church in West Cobb and a recreation center in South Cobb.
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